KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 - Some 160 AirAsia passengers who were stranded in Bangkok since Nov 24 following the closure the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in the Thai capital after being overrun by anti-government protestors, arrived at the LCCT Terminal in Sepang on Monday night.

They were flown back on a 'rescue flight' arranged by the airline to bring back its passenger via the U-Tapao air base outside Bangkok.

The passengers all expressed how glad they were to be back after the 'harrowing' time spent waiting for a flight home.

Housewife Khadijah Mohd Shah, 64, said she was very grateful to be listed on the 'rescue' flight.

Khadijaah said she was in Bangkok to visit her son who works in Pattaya.

Businessman V. Pathmanathan, 43, said he had brought his family to Bangkok for a holiday and did not expect the turn of events.

"I was shocked by what was happening. There were thousands of protestors at Suvarnabhumi Airport and later followed by hundreds of soldiers.

"Luckily a friend brought us out of there. I really feared for the safety of my family," said Pathmanathan, who was accompanied by his wife, mother-in-law and three children.

For Koay Bee Leng, 30s, a private sector employee, she and her husband were supposed to be back at work on Monday.

"We had to take emergency leave and will return to our jobs tomorrow," she said.